Grammar Info

N2 Lesson 9: 22/23

に過(す)ぎないNo more than, Just, Merely

Structure

Verb +（だけ）にすぎない
［い］Adjective +（だけ）にすぎない
［な］Adjective +（なだけ）にすぎない
Noun +（だけ）にすぎない

Details

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    Formal

About にすぎない

にすぎない is a common structure in Japanese used for indicating that something is 'no more than (A)', or 'merely (A)'. This expression is constructed from に, and the negated form of the る-Verb 過(す)ぎる, meaning 'to exceed', or 'to be more than'. Due to this, the literal translation of 'to not be more than (A)' reflects the English interpretations closely.

にすぎない is slightly formal, but is heard fairly often in day-to-day speech as well. This grammar pattern may be used after verbs in any of their standard forms, い-Adjectives, な-Adjectives, or nouns.

にすぎない is often seen paired with structures that will emphasize the phrase even further, such as ただ 'merely' or だけ 'just'. In the case of だけ, it will come between the target word and にすぎない. Also, standard conjugation rules will need to be remembered, such as adding な after a な-Adjective before だけ.

Fun-fact

にすぎない may occasionally appear in set phrases, such as 氷山(ひょうざん)の一角(いっかく)にすぎない, which means 'to merely be the tip of the iceberg'.

  • これは氷山(ひょうざん)の一角(いっかく)にすぎないとおもう...
    I think that this is just the tip of the iceberg…

Examples

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    君(きみ)は学生(がくせい)にすぎない。

    You are nothing more than a student.

    行動(こうどう)しなかったら、口(くち)だけにすぎない。

    If you don't act, then that is nothing more than talk.

    運(うん)が悪(わる)いだけにすぎない。

    It is just bad luck. (nothing more than)

    利害(りがい)関係(かんけい)があるから、親切(しんせつ)にしているにすぎない。

    Since I have an interest/stake in it, I am merely being kind. (nothing more than)

    「いつか飲(の)みましょう」って言(い)ったけど、あれは社交(しゃこう)辞令(じれい)にすぎない。

    I said, 'Let's drink sometime,' but that is no more than social etiquette.

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      にすぎない – Grammar Discussion

      Most Recent Replies (1 in total)

      • dokidokiwakuwaku

        dokidokiwakuwaku

        Would だけ or ばかり not be acceptable synonyms for this grammar point? If not, can someone explain the difference in usage? Thank you!

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